Strike risk rises at Port Hedland

The risk of strikes at Port Hedland has escalated, after two more unions ­representing tugboat workers sought permission to ballot workers possibly leading to to industrial action.

Barely a week after the Maritime Union representing tug deckhands won permission from the Fair Work Commission to ballot workers over possible industrial action, the unions representing the two other types of workers on the tugboats made similar applications to the commission.

The development means engineers on the tugboats (represented by the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers) and the tugboat ­Masters (the Australian Maritime Officers Union) are now also in dispute over a new workplace deal with the company with that operates the tugs;
Teekay Shipping Australia
.

The three unions and Teekay are at odds over the rate of pay increases and annual leave entitlements. Workers want a deal that reflects increasing workloads at the port, where iron ore exports have risen strongly over the past three years.

Shipments growing

Statistics published last week showed about 90 million tonnes of iron ore was shipped from Port Hedland in the March quarter, compared with 67 million tonnes in the March quarter of 2013, and 56 million tonnes in the same period of 2012.

But Teekay, which is contracted by BHP to provide tug services for all port users, believes the new workplace deal should reflect the recent era of austerity in the mining industry, which has seen significant cost cutting and job cuts.

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Australia is tipped to export $78.5 billion worth of iron ore in 2014.

The commodity is easily the nation’s most lucrative export.

Gina Rinehart
’s Roy Hill project could also be affected by future strikes despite being 17 months from first exports, because it will use Port ­Hedland to bring in important equipment during construction.

The deckhands on the tugs won permission for a ballot more than a week ago, and have started a five-week voting period, with workers being posted ballot papers about a potential strike on Friday.

The ballots ask the deckhands whether they want the option for strikes lasting 24 hours, 48 hours, and up to one week.